Chapter 53: Insults
At noon, Link drove to Guess What Pictures to deal with some work left over from the filming of "Ghost".
Including the sharing of subsequent box office revenue of "Buried".
"Buried" has been released in North America for nine weeks. Most theaters have ended their screenings, with only two theaters still showing the film. It is expected to end its screenings completely next week.
"Buried" currently has a box office of 21.55 million US dollars in North America.
Since the cost of theater investment was higher in the later stage, the box office share was also adjusted downward in a step-by-step manner, and Link's share of the box office also dropped from 35% to 0.
In terms of box office share in North America, Link earned $6.5 million.
"Buried" currently has a box office of 38.85 million US dollars overseas.
This is the data sent by 20th Century Fox.
A little less than expected.
According to the original contract, Link had a 10% share of the overseas box office, earning more than 3.8 million US dollars.
Including the $2.2 million in copyright fees for video and other peripheral income paid by 20th Century Fox in the initial deal.
Link earned $12.5 million from Buried.
After deducting various taxes, the revenue was approximately $9 million.
"California's taxes are so high, it's like a robbery."
Link took a pen and scribbled on the document, and at the same time called Michael Leeson and asked him to come to the office.
"It is very high, but who makes you earn so much? If I could make 10 million a year, I would be happy to pay 50%, no, 80% in taxes."
Liu Xiaoli smiled.
"That's so generous. Why don't you donate all 10 million?"
"If I had 10 million, I would donate it all to charity."
Liu Xiaoli said without blushing.
"This is what you said, I remembered it for you. What other work is there?"
Link handed the document to Liu Xiaoli.
“It’s about the script.
Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Miramax, New Line Cinema and others are interested in the three scripts you pitched. Some want to collaborate, and some want to buy the scripts.
How to deal with it specifically still needs your approval."
"Show it to me."
Last year, he wrote five scripts and submitted them to several Hollywood film companies, including the seven major film studios and the top ten independent production companies.
The five scripts are "Seven Deadly Sins", "The Sixth Sense", "Final Destination", "The Butterfly Effect", and "Buried".
Among them, "Seven Deadly Sins" was adapted from an old French movie released in 1962. When copying the script, the source of the script was also indicated on the title page.
It doesn't matter even if it collides with the current script.
His script was rewritten based on the plot of the movie, with many changes to the lines, dialogues and character names.
In addition, when a script is made into a movie, many changes will occur. Many plots will be modified or deleted. There are not many directors who shoot completely according to the script.
The remaining three scripts were also adapted from movies, and many modifications were made during writing based on current conditions.
They are all very high-quality scripts.
Before "Buried" became a huge success, he was unknown and no one was interested in the scripts he submitted.
With the huge sales of "Buried", he not only became a famous director but also a famous screenwriter, and several of his scripts were also valued by film companies.
In the documents sent by Liu Xiaoli, several major film companies responded that they hoped to buy the adaptation rights of the script, with the highest offer being US$500,000.
Several companies have not expressed any intention on whether to invite him to be the director.
Independent production companies such as Miramax, New Line Cinema, and Carlock Films are more sincere.
Willing to cooperate in developing scripts and co-invest in production.
If he has the ability to direct a few scripts, he can also be the director.
"I have rejected all requests to purchase the script. I am not short of money right now, and I have no plans to sell the script."
"Reject them all? Warner Bros.' offer is $500,000. $500,000 for a script, which is over 4 million RMB. Wouldn't it be a shame to reject it?"
"Do I need that half a million? No, not to mention I still have to pay taxes, damn the tax bureau."
"Well, you are amazing. You can sell a script for hundreds of thousands of dollars just by writing it. It's not like us ordinary people who can't earn that much even after working for five or ten years."
"Are you dissatisfied with your salary? You can go to work in the Finance Department and I will increase your salary by 30% immediately."
"No. Being an assistant is good, the work is easy. If I were to manage the finances, I would make a mess and might even lose my job as an assistant."
Liu Xiaoli said without hesitation.
"You don't strive for progress! Liu Xiaoli, how can I promote you if you are like this?"
"I don't want you to promote me. I like being an assistant."
"Are you going to be my assistant for the rest of your life?"
"As long as you can afford to pay the wages."
Liu Xiaoli smiled slightly.
"No problem. Apart from those who want to buy the script, the remaining film companies that have proposed cooperation can continue to communicate and discuss cooperation. The film that is filmed first will be the one that communicates more smoothly."
"good!"
Liu Xiaoli wrote in her notebook, and then she hooked her fingers through the hair that hung down from her ears. "For the third job, Mr. Sam Haskell asked if you are interested in shooting a commercial?"
“Become a commercial director?”
"No, it's an endorsement advertisement. Don't forget that you are not only a famous director, but also a star actor. Congratulations."
"No, I don't need money now."
"Okay, Boss. Mr. Jerome Preston wants to play golf with you. When are you available?"
Liu Xiaoli drew on the document with a pen.
"I don't have time for now. You don't have to respond to this. I'll call him back later."
"The rest is related to media reports. After Buried Alive became a big hit, there have been a lot of negative news about you in the media, including that you had a fight with a classmate during the semester and were advised to drop out;
You dated two girlfriends during your time at the juice factory. They claimed to have contacted you, but you ignored them after you became famous. You were very heartless.
While living in a youth apartment, you were kicked out by the administrator because you couldn't pay the rent, and there were also gossip tabloids saying that you liked older women.
There are many cases of people bringing older women back to their apartments to spend the night, and some of them have a very bad influence. How should we deal with this? "
Liu Xiaoli blinked, her bright pupils revealing some curiosity.
“Don’t worry about it. With my status, this kind of news has little impact on me.
In addition, when you read newspapers in the future, you only need to read major newspapers with sales of more than 1 million copies, and major newspapers will help you screen out important news.
Don’t read entertainment tabloids, they are full of fake news. Not only is it a waste of time, it will also mislead your cognition.”
"So is the news that you often bring older women back to your apartment to spend the night true or false?"
Liu Xiaoli asked with a gossipy look on her face.
Bang!
"Liu Xiaoli, it's good to be curious, but can you put your curiosity in the right place? You are my assistant, not a tabloid reporter. Why are you asking these questions? You are eating melons and you are here to eat melons."
Link pointed at her.
"No, just asking."
"Why are you asking? The gossip tabloids are fake without a doubt. This should be a conditioned reflex. Although I appreciate mature women, I don't like older women. I'm not that perverted. Besides, I was so busy and poor before, how could I have the time to pick up girls?"
"That's good. If you're more normal, I'll have less work pressure."
Liu Xiaoli blinked her peach blossom eyes and smiled with a hint of pride.
Link shook his head and lowered his head to continue signing the documents.
"Why don't you go work in the finance department and help Michael Leeson? I'm worried that you'll piss me off to death if I keep you as my assistant."
"Can you blame me for this? Do you want to reflect on whether you are too stingy? You can't even take a joke."
Liu Xiaoli covered her mouth and laughed, her eyes almost narrowed.
"Sister Xiaoli, it's easy to get tired if you laugh while standing. How about you come over here and let me hold you and laugh?"
Link spread his hands in invitation.
Swish!
Liu Xiaoli immediately stopped smiling, pressed the corners of her lips, and gave him a shy and annoyed look.
"You rascal! You are the big boss, can you please be more careful with your words? You are such a scoundrel."
"Can you blame me for this? Do you want to reflect on whether you are too stingy? You can't even take a joke."
"Hate it! Xiao Linzi, you are so mean, even worse than when you were a kid."
Liu Xiaoli blushed and spat at him, threw the remaining documents on the desk, turned around and walked away in her high heels, leaving him with a beautiful back.
Link smiled gently. This was one of the reasons why he didn't want to use Liu Xiaoli as his assistant.
We are too familiar with each other, so it is difficult to criticize her if she makes a mistake, nor can I exploit her at work, let alone take advantage of her.
Sometimes she would get angry and do some outrageous things.
What could Link say? He could only give her more freedom.
But Liu Xiaoli is not a willful little girl.
Less than two minutes after he went out, he came back with a cup of tea and politely said, "Boss, have some tea."
Afterwards, she stopped joking with him and stood in front of the desk with a cold and beautiful face. She answered questions only when they were asked, and didn't answer when they were not asked. She just quietly worked as a little assistant.
Thanks to 'Lord of Time' for the reward.
(End of this chapter)
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